Study Finds No E-Cig DNA Damage

Even at a dosage of 28 times above the equivalent smoke exposure, e-cigarette vapour does not damage DNA. Those are the findings of a lab-based cellular test carried out by British American Tobacco scientists.

Although it’s well publicised that there is DNA damage in human lung cells when exposed to cigarette smoke, there is absolutely none when it comes to e-cigarette vapour, illustrating the health benefits of vaping.

“We have been able to show that there is significant DNA damage in human lung cells exposed to smoke, but that this is not case with e-cigarette vapour,” explained Dr James Murphy, Head of Risk Substantiation at British American Tobacco.

“These findings add to evidence on the likely reduced risks of vaping, compared to smoking,” he added.

When exposed to tobacco smoke, a double-strand break can occur, which means both strands of the molecule have been broken. This is the most serious kind of DNA damage, possibly cancer causing and lethal to the cell.